The Needs of The People

My thoughts about leadership (this is not my political views or about politics):

Trump won the election. Many people felt shocked and amazed. I too am amazed. The future will only tell what Trump will do in America – good or bad. But I asked myself, “Is there something to be learned from this shocking news about what people want in leadership, which could apply to us.” Why did the US people choose Trump with all his character flaws?

In the many theories that the experts put forward, one stood out the most. It speaks of the heart and emotional needs of the people.

“Trump listened to the American people, the working class.”

“He remembered the forgotten men and women of America, the working class.”

“The Democrats and the left “have given up/abandoned/lost touch with the working class.”

Is there something we can learn as we lead our churches? Are we in touch with our “working class” people and their needs in our churches? Do they feel listened to, cared for, and loved? Do we hear their pain? Or are we, like the Democrats, think we are meeting their needs, or assumed they are fine when they are actually hurting inside.

This is something to ponder – the needs of the “working class” as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:21-16 – the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour.

There is a danger of being too busy and not being able to hear the voice of the “working class” in our churches. If we slow down just for a moment, have a meal with them like Jesus, perhaps just perhaps we will see something different that we have never seen before.